Recent Release Book Review: Take Your Seaside Arms by Mel Bossa

Sadonna

Reviewed by Sadonna

 

TITLE:  Take your Seaside Arms

AUTHOR:  Mel Bossa

PUBLISHER:  JMS Books

LENGTH:  208 pages

RELEASE DATE:  February 5, 2026

BLURB:

When fifteen-year-old Rian Mariso’s family road trip to the East Coast turns into a summer of heartbreak and self-discovery, he never expects to be swept away — literally — by a storm and rescued by a beautiful merman with a sparkling silver tail shimmering beneath the waves.

Now years later, Rian is a successful but closeted insurance salesman, haunted by memories of that secret kiss he shared with the merman whose sea blue eyes he never forgot. Though his friends pressure him, Rian doesn’t have the courage to come out to his conventional parents. His life has become a sham, and the loneliness is slowly killing his dreams.

Then one night, the past resurfaces in the most unexpected way. The merman, who now calls himself Olson, shows up in the marina by Rian’s home, in human form, desperate and weak. After years of searching for Rian, Olson has made a terrible deal in exchange for his human legs. Together, Rian and Olson have four weeks to conquer the spell, but for Rian, that means risking being discovered by his family. As Rian and Olson’s connection deepens into something fierce and transformative, old wounds reopen, and time begins to run out for Olson.

Can they find a place where they both belong — on land or at sea — before it’s too late?

REVIEW:

Rian and his parents go to visit the sea shore the summer he is 15.  He is drawn to the ocean like nothing else in his life.  He’s trying to drown out the “odd” feelings he’s been having and trying to be “normal” for his family and for himself.  But the night of a storm, he’s drawn to the pier and he’s swept into the water.  He can’t swim and he comes to on the beach with a head injury.  He has been saved by a beautiful merman and he thinks maybe he’s hallucinating.

15 years later, Rian is living a rather desperate closeted life.  He’s had many friends who have died from AIDS or a sick with it and he’s kept himself in the closet all this time. He’s not happy, but outwardly seems quite successful.

One night after yet another family wedding that he’s attended dateless, he’s drawn out by a storm.  He finds that merman – who now has legs – on a boat in the harbor by his apartment.  He bring “Olson” home with him.  Thus begins a very different and difficult story.

Olson tells Rian that he’s made a “deal” and he’s only got until the next full moon.  Rian agrees to let Olson stay, but he’s paranoid about anyone finding out, seeing him with another man or having any sort of a real relationship with Olson.  Olson is hurt and angry and doesn’t understand because he keeps telling Rian they have been tied together since that kiss 15 years ago.  Neither of them know what will happen when the full moon comes again.

Oh man!  This is such a heartbreaking story!  The 1980s and 90s were such a terrible time.  There is so much of this story that really brought me back to those days and the fear and homophobia of the times.  Poor Olson was trying so hard to get Rian to “see” but Rian had so much internalized homophobia that it’s a tall ask.  I love Mel Bossa’s writing and I loved this story, despite some pretty painful moments.  It rang very true to me of what living in those times was like and how much was at stake for so many men.  It’s ultimately so heartwarming and lovely and left me with a smile on my face 🙂  We could all use a good happily ever after right about now.  Highly recommended.

RATING:

BUY LINK:

Amazon

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